Winter is warm when you know how to live Hygge

When I first started learning Norwegian about 10 years ago, I noticed a detail: in addition to a lot of words used to describe comfort, friendliness, warmth and a series of positive adjectives, Norwegians (and their Danish neighbors across the… strait) are especially fond of using two adjectives.hyggeligandkoselig. They can use it in almost any situation, any context and many other catchphrases. Of course, as long as what is said is meant to be funny.

At first, I used them unconsciously, as a linguistic habit that can only be explained very simply as “because it… is like that!” Later, after living in Norway for a while, I began to realize and gradually “absorb” the quality ofhyggeof the northerners.

HyggeWhat is that?

Hygge (pronounced hue-geh) is a Norwegian noun that originally meant good health or a hug. When the suffix-ligthenhyggelighas become an adjective meaning healthy or happy. That is also the reason why when meeting for the first time, after a few greetings and introducing their names, Norwegians will add “Hyggelig!” which means “Nice to meet you!”

When “moving” down south, to Denmark,hyggeandhyggelighas a completely different meaning, which is happiness and coziness (noun) or happy and coziness (adjective). And it was the Danes, not the Norwegians, who made the concepthyggebecome famous worldwide: lifestylehyggeof the Nordic people. Today,HyggeIt is so common that one does not need to find an English equivalent for it but can simply use the original language, Danish.

LifestylehyggeNot only in Denmark, but also in Northern Europe, people in general enjoy life according to this criterion. However, the name is somewhat different. In Norway - the original "homeland" of the wordhygge–that is todaykoselig.As for the Swedish people, the spiritHyggeexpressed by adjectivestrevlighave the same meaning.

Hyggefrom inside the house…

For the Nordic climate, which has long winter months, with snowy nights and days when the sun never rises, the home must be the warmest and safest place, helping them to take refuge through the cold winter days.

Traditional Nordic homes are built of pine, with walls nearly 50 cm thick, enough to insulate the house. The outside may be painted, but the inside is usually made of rough wood. That is the most basic element that creates the spirit.hyggefor a cold country house: the rusticity of pine wood, the light brown color of wood combined with yellow light is enough to create a cozy space in the family.

Before moving with my family to the suburbs of Oslo (Norway), I lived in an apartment in the middle of the splendid capital. The convenience of a new apartment made me somewhat worried when I bought the house from my uncle in the family, which was built 30 years ago. However, after spending the first winter in that small house in the suburbs, my husband and I no longer missed the previous conveniences.

When autumn comes with heartbreaking rains, people start preparing firewood for the fireplace. The firewood, after being chopped into small pieces, will be neatly arranged in a separate place, usually the roofed part of the house next to the garage, to prevent the rain from wetting the firewood. When the temperature begins to drop to 0ºC, people start lighting the fireplace, usually in the afternoon, when everyone in the family has come home and is waiting for dinner. After a cozy meal, the whole family will gather around the crackling fireplace, drinking coffee or hot cocoa, despite the snow outside that is getting thicker and thicker. On an evening like this, people probably don't need to ask for anything more, except a littlepeisekos– happiness by the fireplace.

…Hyggego out into the street

Sweden is the second largest coffee consumer in the world, behind only Finland. The Danes and Norwegians are not far behind, both of which are in the top 10 list of coffee consumers in the world. So in big cities, you can find a coffee shop on every street corner.

If we exclude international coffee brands with identical names and decoration styles everywhere, a true Nordic-style coffee shop must, of course, bring a cozy feeling.Hyggeas soon as entering the restaurant.

These small shops are usually located inside an old house in the old town with a very low ceiling, very dim lights and very old floor tiles, so old that they creak when people step on them. Otherwise, the shop must be a small space, just enough to put a few tables and chairs inside, and a few more outside.

One winter day many years ago, my family had a weekend trip to Copenhagen, Denmark. After looking around the city, we were tired, so we went to a very small coffee shop in an equally small corner, and now I can't remember how I got there. I only remember that when I pushed the door open and stepped inside, the feeling was very pleasant, not like when you step into a coffee shop in a strange city. That feeling, like you come back from a long trip, open the door and step into your own familiar kitchen, smelling the hot coffee someone has prepared waiting for you to drink. Drinking a cup of hot coffee with your lover in a strange-yet-familiar shop like that, isn't it also a great feeling?hyggeligso much?

Four Seasons Hygge

The Norwegians have a proverb:“There is no bad weather, only unsuitable clothing”, meaning that you can feel comfortable and at ease in any season, as long as you wear the right clothes. And that’s why on rainy days people go to the forest to pick mushrooms, or on cold winter days they go to the frozen lake to sit for hours… fishing!

Living in harmony with nature is one of the ways that helps Northern Europeans enjoy life.Hyggein the simplest way. Throughout the twelve months of the year, people always have an excuse to go outside and exercise. Even in the harshest season of winter, people have a reason to go out to drink coffee with friends or play snow sports to "drag" themselves out of the house, move their bodies and breathe fresh air.

Having lived in the suburbs for a while, I noticed something interesting: in the summer, in the supermarkets here, you hardly see berries like strawberries or raspberries for sale. It was only after a while that I realized that these delicious fruits grow wild on the paths in the woods, even in the bushes along the roads in the city. So why buy them in the supermarket, when you can pick them yourself and eat them deliciously and most importantly… for free!

Autumn comes with endless autumn rains, Northern Europeans can lazily sit indoors and look out onto the porch, leisurely sip aromatic coffee and enjoy a piece of toast with homemade raspberry jam, fragrant. That simple happiness is simply calledHygge.

7 Ways to Live Hygge Like the Nordics

You don't need to be Nordic or live in Northern Europe, you can absolutely create a Hygge lifestyle for yourself with just simple things as described below.

1. Spend time with family

Nordic people value family time. If they eat out, it is only for special occasions like weddings or other events. So, no matter how busy you are, try to have dinner with your family.

2. Cook at home

Along with having dinner with your family, cooking by yourself is also a way to help you connect with your family by learning about everyone's tastes, or cooking with your mother or children, especially young children.

3. Immerse yourself in nature

If you live in the city and don't have the conditions to go to the mountains or the sea regularly, on the weekend you can take a walk in the park and breathe fresh air in the early morning, or camp in the suburbs with friends.

4. Be active

It could be taking a morning walk, cycling to the market instead of driving, going swimming on a hot day, or simply using the stairs instead of the elevator if you are only moving a few floors.

5. Limit the use of electronic devices and reading books on rainy days

Cut down on TV time and use less electronic devices, especially during family meals. Instead, read a book, read the news in the newspaper, or simply chat with the people around you. Especially on cold rainy days, there is nothing better than curling up in a blanket, reading your favorite book and drinking coffee or hot cocoa.

6. Decorate your home in a minimalist style

If you can’t redecorate your entire home, at least give your bedroom a Scandinavian minimalist look. A clean room will help you relax and sleep better.

7. Always think positively

Of course, in life there will be times when you feel depressed, disappointed, tired or countless other negative emotions. At that time, instead of focusing on what makes you sad, try to look at things in a positive way, such as what lesson that bad thing has helped you realize, what experience you have learned.

Ngoc Quyen